LITTLE ROCK, AR – On November 17, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared November 12-18 as Arkansas Turkey Week. Governor Sanders was joined by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, industry partners, and agriculture leaders at the proclamation event. The Arkansas Turkey Week proclamation highlights the state’s turkey industry and its value to Arkansas’s economy and agriculture industry.
“Agriculture is Arkansas’ biggest industry and we’re all working hard to help our poultry producers grow and thrive. Thank you to our great turkey producers for helping everyone take part in the Thanksgiving tradition,” said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
The poultry industry, including turkeys, leads Arkansas’s agricultural sector with over 55 percent of the state’s agricultural cash receipts.
“Arkansas produces 26 million turkeys per year, which provides over 550 million pounds of protein annually,” said Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward. “We are thankful for the farmers who provide this protein throughout the entire year.”
“As the third-largest turkey producer in the country, Arkansas plays a pivotal role in ensuring that tables across the United States are adorned with quality poultry products,” said Marvin Childers, President of The Poultry Federation. “Arkansas Turkey Week is an opportunity for us to celebrate the hardworking farmers who dedicate themselves to producing turkeys of the highest standards.”
At the event, Governor Sanders pardoned two live Chocolate Turkeys provided by Jackson Barber and Kaden Ables of Austin, Arkansas. Both Barber and Ables are members of the Cabot FFA Chapter and Hog Wild 4-H Club in Lonoke County.
Learn more about the turkey industry in Arkansas and its economic impact at thepoultryfederation.com/ resources/facts-figures.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture, forestry, and natural resources to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while conserving natural resources and ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation. Visit agriculture.arkansas.gov/. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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